National Grid publishes balancing services roadmap

National Grid has published a roadmap of actions for its frequency response and reserve markets.

The document outlines the principles which govern how its balancing services products will develop over time, which it said would provide greater clarity and investor certainty.

The roadmap follows National Grid’s ‘System Needs and Product Strategy’ (SNAPS) consultation which outlined the system balancing needs and set out how products could likely develop over time.

Some 128 responses were received and National Grid said the vast majority agreeing with its proposed approach around increasing the standardisation of products, moving procurement closer to real time – but with periodic longer term contracting opportunities – and ensuring there was a greater emphasis on trialling new ways of working.

The roadmap details plans to bring procurement of Firm Frequency Response (FFR) more closely in line with the wholesale market and steps to simplify contracts.

The roadmap also updates on plans for a replacement Enhanced Frequency Response product.

Rationalisation work

Cathy McClay, Head of Commercial Electricity at National Grid, said the quality and volume of responses to the consultation was “fantastic”.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to the continued engagement in this process.”

National Grid said it will deliver a new document on other service areas such as Reactive Power, Black Start and Constraint Management in Q1 2018.

In November National Grid said it had completed its first tranche of rationalisation work on Firm Frequency Response (FFR) products following its SNaPS consultation.

It has set out plans to redevelop and replace schemes including Enhanced Frequency Response; Rapid Frequency Response; FFR Bridging; Frequency Control by Demand Management; Enhanced Optional Short-Term Operating Reserve (STOR); and STOR runway. Two other schemes - Max Gen and Fast Start - are not being used anyway as their requirements are being met by reserve products.